I admit it again and again....: I’m a gadget addict. I like little or big devices that do neat things. At the same time, if I can, I also like to save money. What is a poor gal to do with these two conflicting interests? Simple. I buy gadgets that can pay for themselves (and even see a bit of return) over the long haul.

This usually means I look for energy-saving and cost-efficient gadgets, but it also means that I try to evaluate things in terms of whether or not they can potentially return money to me.

What’s nice is that many of these gadgets that save me money in the long run make a great deal of environmental sense as well. In keeping with the bits I did months back on energy-saving devices and last time’s belt-tightening gadgets that aid us. Some we’ve been using for quite some time and should be using forever! Well, here’s more of ‘em and how!

Battery Charger - My son has a bevy of toys that just gobble batteries. It seems like every day I’m dropping more and more batteries into these devices. Thankfully, a battery recharger can trim the costs down really quick. Just take your double As, toss them in this, plug it in, and they’re good to go again. It’s absolutely perfect for parents that have children with lots of battery-powered toys.

Flash Drive - I find countless uses for my flash drive, the best of which is for an emergency backup of key files. A flash drive has saved my life practically! Even through Ondoy, thank God my USB flash drives were one of the key things along with my cell phones I saved. Aside from files, it has also saved a lot of money in terms of burning CDs for software installation packages off the network. In short, it’s invaluable.

Efficient Shower Heads - High efficiency shower heads save money by reducing the amount of water that needs to flow through your hot water heater. An average household can save as much as 15,000 gallons of water per year by installing high-efficiency shower heads. Even better: that’s 15,000 gallons of hot water that your heater doesn’t have to heat, cutting down on your energy costs as well.

A Lap Top – Didn’t know that this was such a saver? Now that laptops have reached a usability and reliability standard that approximates desktops, it becomes a serious choice whether or not to replace a desktop with a laptop. If you make the leap, you’ll find that the energy savings are tremendous.

I often run it from battery at home and charge it using available outlets in other places, such as cafes, Krispy Kreme outlets (mind you not all allow you to plug in anymore..), meaning I have very little home energy use from the laptop. It won’t take long for this savings to make up for the differences in cost, plus you’ll have all of the laptop portability advantages.

It’s hardly a secret that making your own food at home is great for your budget and your health. Our environment also benefits from less packaging and traveling to stores and restaurants. A lesser-known fact is that you don’t necessarily have to sacrifice time in order to save money.

The trick is having the right tools on hand. Here are a few kitchen/household favorites. These I found that if used on a regular basis can save you hundreds of pesos every month. You probably already have most of them tucked away in your kitchen cabinets. If not, ask friends if they’re looking to unload any of the items below or seek out great deals or freebies on Sulit.com, AyosDito and elsewhere.

Slow Cooker – now we go to the kitchen stuff. This one makes sense. Grandma had the right idea. This old-fashioned appliance can save you money in countless ways. You can make delicious meals using inexpensive ingredients such as beans and tough cuts of meat (which are magically transformed into tender morsels after a full day of cooking at a low temperature).

Slow cookers use much less energy than traditional ovens and stoves. You’ll also potentially spend less on take-out since you won’t be tempted to order in at the end of a long day because you’re too tired to cook. Prep time is usually quick and easy since it often involves slicing and dicing a few ingredients, throwing it into your slow cooker, and letting it simmer all day.

Coffee Maker - We’ve all heard this one before, but that’s because you can really save a bundle by brewing your coffee at home instead of purchasing it a coffee shop. How much will you pocket? The average adult can save around P5,000/month (assuming you buy two cups of Joe a day at an average price of P60.00/cup).

Bread Machine - Homemade bread is far superior to and much less expensive than most store-bought versions. Most of us don’t have time to bake bread by hand, but a bread machine can save a lot of time since all you have to do is add the ingredients and turn it on. It’s also a great tool for making pizza dough, desserts, and other higher ticket items.